NATO – Japan cooperation

NATO has its longest-standing Asian relationship with Japan. A strategic dialogue is ongoing; it involves biannual, high level discussions held alternately in Japan or at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.

Both sides benefit from a regular, informal exchange of views. The more structured contacts were initiated at the first NATO-Japan exchange in 1990, on the Belgian coast. The biannual meetings arose from this first meeting. NATO’s Secretary General visited Tokyo in April 2005.

The political dialogue is gradually being complimented by practical cooperation. Japan’s support for peace and security-orientated operations in Afghanistan are valued by the Allies, in particular, the Japanese efforts to disband illegally armed groups and in disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of former Afghan military combatants. Japan also supports a Law and Order Trust Fund in order to strengthen police activities, and to support capacity development at both the central and the community level. The Japanese government has also committed several million Yen in support of basic human needs projects in various regions of Afghanistan. The selection of projects is facilitated by NATO, with the identification of projects through the Provincial Reconstruction Teams. 

Since the mid-1990s, Japan has played a welcome role in stabilizing the Balkans. Following the initial NATO intervention, Japan aided the Allies in winning the peace in that region.  Japan’s contribution as a major donor nation has played an important part in the successful recovery of the Balkans region, as well as its reintegration into the European mainstream.